Air and Aerodynamics

Question 1

Aerodynamics

Answer 1

The science of moving through air.

Question 2

Air

Answer 2

An invisible mixture of gases which make up the Earth’s atmosphere - it consists mainly of nitrogen and oxygen.

Question 3

Airfoil

Answer 3

A shape designed to provide lift when air flows around it.

Question 4

Air Pressure

Answer 4

The force exerted on the surface of objects by the weight of air particles - air pressure acts from all directions and increases with the increased concentration of air molecules.

Question 5

Air resistance

Answer 5

Resistance or friction that acts to slow down an object as it moves through the air.

Question 6

Atmosphere

Answer 6

The mass of air which surrounds the earth.

Question 7

Barbules

Answer 7

Projections on barbs that link with those above and below them to keep all the barbs connected making a solid feather surface.

Question 8

Bernoulli’s principle

Answer 8

When the speed of a fluid is low (water or air), the pressure is high. When the speed of a fluid is high the pressure is low. The faster that air moves across a surface, the lower the air pressure.

Question 9

Burning

Answer 9

A rapid form of oxidation in which substances combine with oxygen to form one or more oxides and plenty of heat and light, also called combustion.

Question 10

Compression

Answer 10

The squeezing of the particles of a gas or porous body into a smaller space.

Question 11

Contour feathers

Answer 11

The larger feathers that cover the body of birds and their wings. Contour feathers include flight feathers.

Question 12

Down

Answer 12

Short fluffy feathers that lie underneath contour feathers. These feathers trap air and act as an insulator helping birds stay warm.

Question 13

Drag

Answer 13

Resistance or friction that acts to slow down an object as it moves through a gas or liquid.

Question 14

Expand

Answer 14

To take up more room.

Question 15

Friction

Answer 15

The force that resists the motion of one body over or through another.

Question 16

Glider

Answer 16

A aircraft that flies without an engine - its pilot tries to find updrafts of air to gain height and extend the flight.

Question 17

Gravity

Answer 17

A force of attraction that every mass in the universe exerts on other masses.
This force increases in the mass of an object.

Question 18

Hovercraft

Answer 18

A machine that floats on a cushion of compressed air.

Question 19

Jet engine

Answer 19

An engine that generates a powerful thrust in a chamber where the explosion of the burning fuel pushes on the airplane in a forward direction but escapes out the back.

Question 20

Keratin

Answer 20

A tough flexible protein that makes up fingernails and other parts of animals including the shaft of feathers.

Question 21

Kinetic energy

Answer 21

Energy of motion. The faster an object moves the more kinetic energy it has.

Question 22

Lift

Answer 22

The upward force which acts against the force of gravity - reducing air pressure on the top side of an airfoil produces lift.

Question 23

Mass

Answer 23

The amount of matter in an object.

Question 24

Pectoral muscles

Answer 24

Muscles of the chest.

Question 25

Preening

Answer 25

The act o rubbing preen gland oil on the feathers with the beak and zipping up the barbules again.

Question 26

Propeller

Answer 26

A curved blade that, when spun around quickly, forces an aircraft forward - a propeller is a twisted airfoil.

Question 27

Oxidation

Answer 27

Occurs when a substance combines with oxygen.

Question 28

Resistance

Answer 28

Drag or friction that acts to slow down an object as it moves through a gas or liquid.

Question 29

Rusting

Answer 29

A slow chemical reaction between iron and oxygen to and from rust or iron oxide.

Question 30

Streamlining

Answer 30

The shaping of an object so that a gas or liquid will move easily around it.

Question 31

Thrust

Answer 31

The force that causes an object to move forward.

Question 32

Weight

Answer 32

The force with which gravity pulls on an object - technically it should be expressed in Newtons but is often measured in units of mass such as grams or kilograms.

Question 33

Photosynthesis

Answer 33

Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen to make food.

Question 34

Respiration

Answer 34

Humans use oxygen to breathe and they release carbon dioxide.